The Michael Jackson No One Knew

July 9, 2009 | Comments | Relationship, Uncategorized, news, personal development, psychology

Was he a genius singer, songwriter, and dancer? Or was he just Wacko Jacko? Maybe he was a deeply loving father who was also possibly a child molester?

Let me be clear, I did not personally know Michael Jackson. I never met the man and my opinion of who the man was is only as informed as all the other people out there with an opinion. Let’s face it, opinions are like noses; almost everyone has one. It is for this very reason that I’ve decided to write this article.

What I will say is this; I refuse to see Michael Jackson through a single lens. A lens given to me by a bias media feeding frenzy who just a few years ago tortured Michael with a complete lack of privacy, judging his every action as that of someone who was “wacko”. The same media today deify the man with 24-hour news coverage.

Was Michael Jackson a Master, a Monster, or simply a Man who we saw through a distorted lens?

The simple truth is that, I like you, during my life, have suffered the cruelty of those who were only willing to see me through a single perception of who I am. Over the years I have worked with many people who have battled to be seen as more than fat, thin, ugly, too pretty, too smart, too dumb, too young, too old, or some other limiting idea . Each one of these people, just like you, was far more than the labels put upon them.

While walking down a busy street with a friend of mine chatting and laughing, I suddenly noticed someone I knew approaching us. This person seemed to recognize both my friend and me. The person approaching nodded a cool hello and carried on. I thought little of the event until two days later when I was on my own and bumped into the same person who had given us the cool nod. This person walked up to me and said:

“How can you be friends with Joe, (alias for my friend), he is such an ass?”

My answer was simple: “I have no idea who you are talking about.” This guy said; “yes you do, I saw you with Joe the other day.” I reiterated: “I have no idea who you are talking about. Yes you saw me with Joe but I have no idea who the ass is you are referring to.” This guy then seemed to feel it was his duty to fill me in on all Joe’s faults. I quickly interrupted him and said: “That’s not my experience of Joe and your experience is your own. I will not judge Joe by any other experience than the one I have with him.”

Michael Jackson arrived in most of our lives via ‘the box’, as we watched glued to our TV sets; we saw a very young and extraordinarily talented kid sing, dance, and warm our hearts.

Most people only knew Michael through that same box and on June 25th, 2009 it was that box that told us of his death. On July 7th, 2009 Michael appeared one final time in another box, his casket, and the world said it’s goodbyes to a man they once called the ‘King of Pop’. Michael Jackson came to us via a box and like most of us will, he also left in one. However, it is up to each and every one of us to decide if we will keep him in ‘the box’ we were sold him in.

Michael Jackson was clearly an outstanding talented man at what he did for a living; he was not an average guy with a 9-to-5 lifestyle. But, let us not forget that even the average guy deserves to be seen through more than a single lens. Human beings are much more than the boxes we like to put them in…

We are all multifaceted beings whose many sides are impossible to see if we’re busy standing in judgment of a single facet.

There’s a good chance that even though you are reading this I don’t personally know you. Nonetheless, how would you feel if someone judged you, put you in a box through a single facet of your life. IE: “Oh you’re a stay at home mom, so obviously you’re a…” Or, “Oh, you’re in the banking business, obviously you’re…” Is this kind of thinking any different than judging a person by their colour, creed, or religion?

Prejudice is prejudice.

One type of prejudice is not better or worse than another.

What prejudice is at its very roots is the inability to see a person as a whole that contains many parts.

Furthermore, prejudice is judging someone through a myopic single lens that blinds us to the beauty of who they are above and beyond that narrow view we have decided is the only representation.

There was a time when the media said Michael was a child molester and you may have heard that and agreed. After all, the evidence we the public were fed was incriminating. But, let us also remember that at his memorial his daughter Paris said:

“I just want to say; ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine. And I just wanted to say, I love him so much.”

My final words on this are simple: I did not know Michael Jackson. I only have my very limited experience of how I choose to have his life impact mine.

I cannot and will not judge the elephant by its tail alone.

I look forward to your feedback and comments.

Until next time live with courage, Dov…

Popularity: 9% [?]

Tagged as: 24-hour news coverage, cruelty, dancer, deify, Fans, Father, friendship, Genius, judgment, King of Pop, lack of privacy, laughing, media feeding frenzy, Michael Jackson, Paris, Prejudice, singer, songwriter, Television, thin, too dumb, too old, too pretty, too smart, too young, ugly, Wacko

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Alexandra Barrett

Hi Dov, Is it not amazing how the lovely heartfelt words we feel and write rise back up to warm someones heart when we least expect it? I came across this article while cleaning out some year old mail and I was so happy and warmed by your kind and caring expression of truth on behalf of our wonderful brother Michael Jackson. Hail to the King of Pop and all his many gifts of love while upon this earth in form. He blessed us in so many ways. We love him still, whatever he may have or have not been. Blessings, Alexandra

Dov Baron

Hey Alexandra,
I'm delight that you found value in this article. Like i said, it's easy to judge from the outside with a limited view of someones reality. Stepping into that reality is quite another.
With gratitude, Dov...

Davidbeking

Great Post Dov! I agree completely that you cannot judge someone... especially through the lens of a bias media. Even if he did do what he was accused of you still cannot judge someone b/c you don't know what that person has been through. It's not our job anyways!

He was an amazing talented person who had a passion and drive to be the best and had so much love for everyone. His songs and messages shared that. The documentary "this is it" was real good and I learned more about him from that...

Love the post Dov! Keep it up!

David

Nandini

Thanks much for a very nice article. Just like you, I refuse to judge Michael by what the media has written for years. I think 90% of it has been fabricated, because the press is a business and any news about MJ brings in money. I've been a fan for 28 years, which is a very long time. Very early in life, I realised that the media was prejudiced towards Michael and came out with all kinds of hurtful stories. I personally do not believe any trash about his so called eccentricities, molestation allegations among other stories. I have only believed what Michael said about himself time and again, either through his interviews or through his songs. And I am quite sure that he was being honest all along. Today, the world knows that he wasn't lying about his vitiligo problem. For years, the press said that he had wanted to change his skin colour! I would urge non-believers to do a little bit of research on other untruths about Michael and they will only see an honest, true and amazing human being. I hope he is vindicated in the press for everything.

cheptaiyasin

Hi Dov,
Thanks for MJ 's blog .i had of him some time back when i was young and his music inspired me a lot and i will never forget him and i love the way he did his music and i think he was himself and i will live to remember him for the talent ,vision passion,intergrity ,can do spirit in him,self styled ,i look forward to do something to be remembered for the way micheal has left a legancy behind him.
Micheal rest in peace, am YASIN CHEPTAI from uganda. we still love you micheal though you are no where to be seen but still see you in your Vidios' you left behind.

Suzanne Kyra

Hi Dov,
Thank-you for blog on Michael Jackson. I am moved by your view of the world with the bigger picture in mind. The time of his body death for a week, I taped a photo of Michael Jackson to my living room window. When I looked out of the window to see the ocean, I now also saw Michael Jackson's image. I was able to view him with another lense. He was a man of such immense talent, vision, passion and humanness. We are blessed by the legacy he has given us, and we did not even have to do anything to earn it. Much love and blessing to you and your work. Suzanne Kyra.

Ann Fry

What an incredible article. Thank you for being open enough to take this on. I have felt the same way, have written about it in my blog and spoken "my opinions" with close friends.
I personally think MJ was an exploited young man who never had a childhood, resonated with children ... as playmates (innocently)... and was severely misunderstood. Most people disagree with me.

It doesn't matter. He was the King of Pop... ANd, don't forget, he was a humanitarian who deeply cared about our planet. He will be deeply missed.

On a larger scale, I, like you, hope that some day we will live in a universe that reveres people and doesn't just judge them harshly.
Thanks again.
Ann

dawn dancing otter

Like this one so much, Dov; Yes. I resonate to my core.
Big Love,
dawn

Bri

Thanks Dov for providing such a stimulating topic and resulting thread with many gifts for us all. There is no right or wrong, good or evil, just what is, and the rest is what I make it.

Love, Bri

Alexandra Barrett

thank you for this beautiful and thoughtful article Dov~

I believe that Michael Jackson was a deeply complex and loving man with the heart of a child and the soul of a wise man who has seen too much and sees no immediate escape. I have known others who like MJ saw no way out of the mirror.

This world would not have been the same without the magnificent Michael Jackson and I wish I can contribute one tenth of what he did to to life as we know it while I am in body.

Thank you for your heart and vision and compassion for the torture of this lonely icon that most of us loved and were mystified by. If only we had known the man and who he was and what he felt....but then that is why we have his music and his history of generosity to a world that judged him every day .

I am thankful for the body of work he left behind to remind us of his magic and to light up our lives with fantasy and truth.

Love

Alexandra

Laura

This IS a good discussion. I especially like the crux that race, religion, gender - no of the labels apply. I also wanted to clarify that when I say "assisted suicide", my meaning is a full grown adult with capable faculties and too much money having doctors ply them with too many drugs. The Elvises, the Anna Nicole Smiths, the myriad of celebrities who make the news because they die...an assisted suicide.
I have a beef with being told what NOT to think about Michael Jackson because of someone else's perceptions of the person they THINK they knew. The judgement is reserved for anyone who has an opposing view. Interesting mirror. As I may have mentioned, I am disturbed that a talented person like MJ chose to end this life's incarnation, but I was never a fan nor a "hater". I didn't know him. I think I bought "Rock With You" the 45 back when rollerskating was still the THING to do, but his music was never my type. I'm allowed that right, it doesn't make me a hater though. When the media shoves his death in my face, I'm allowed that opinion as well. Even so, it's not about HIM, it's about the LOA-ness (I just made that up, I kinda like it!) of it all.
The truth is, not even his own family knew the true extent until it was too late.
So where are we LOA-wise other than I'm back at the beginning not understanding any of it. Dov, there has to be an order of things. No, the Universe doesn't need us to rise or set the sun, but as the supposed greatest creation, there has to be something more than random "go out there and do what you want to whomever you want." There's something missing or that I'm misunderstanding. It can't be cut and dried "jump into life and do what you will." That kind of random thinking is non-LOA and what we're all trying to get out of, am I right?
And thanks to Ehab for voicing a different view!
Multiple blessings to everyone!

Maggie

Dynamic article Dov ~~~ Joe is a lucky man to have you as his friend :-)

HUGS Maggie

Wendy

Hi Dov,

What I appreciate the most about your post was how you responded to the person who attempted to gossip about "Joe". Now that is INTEGRITY.

Your post also prompted me to question my beliefs about a private prejudice I've nurtured since childhood. One that I formed out of some unpleasant experiences with my mom. My brother and I even made a secret pact / agreement over it: "All ____ people are ___________. We will never be ___." (We were young, maybe 7 and 8 years old).

Because I believed it, I manifested it throughout my life. Sure enough, all _____ people were ___________. And sure enough, I never became ____., and neither did my brother.

My ego-mind even congratulated me, because my prejudice wasn't racial. I was raised specifically to NOT be racist.

Lately I noticed that a plethora of _____ people were showing up in my life. I began questioning why so many of them... and then you wrote this post and I read it (and had to ponder it for a day). Something about your post agitated me (thank you!) and after avoiding my discomfort and then trying to deny it altogether ~ I just couldn't anymore.

I realized that my belief was ridiculuous, it certainly wasn't serving me, and it wasn't consciously kind to others ~ even if I kept my prejudice silent. Resonance of toxicity on my part. I realized that I needed to be TRULY looking at the intrinsic value inside of all people who happen to be _____.

Thank you for noting that it is the same media that tortured Michael Jackson and fed us "evidence" that is now diefying him.

Some of the media "coverage" borders on schadenfreude (pleasure derived from the misfortune of others).

My sincere condolences to Michael Jackson's family and friends.

For the record, I am a "fan" ~ I really enjoy both the Jackson 5 and Michael Jackson's music! Can't help but dance and sing along... "Dancin' Machine" is one of my favorites. :)

Wendy

Shaun

I LOVE the vibrancy and energy of this conversation.

I commented earlier from reading the blog but without taking much more than a glance at the comments below from others. After reading the comments and the challenging conversation it is exciting to feel the very stimulating and challenging conversations everyone involved here is engaging in. It certainly gives me more to ponder on about collective consciousness.

I took no interest in the *media coverage* of the sad event that is the passing of Michael Jacksons' life.
I have no doubt the media coverage would *not* be about growth but be all about labels and headlines and deciding what the meaning *should* be for people without doing their own independent thinking themselves. Superficial stuff, hypberbole and sensationalism for the sake of gaining widespread attention is just so repelling to me I like to stay clear of it. I just find it so empty to give any of my attention to so I choose to steer myself clear of giving any too.

But real genuine open debate away from the bullshit that is the circus show of tv land I love to give my attention to. Bring it on and you all got my mind and heart very stimulated and passionate about looking way beyond the surface of all collective reality and personal reality. That is always a good thing.

Keep it coming. Love the expansion and collective questioning going on.

Teri

Why do we expect more from Michael Jackson than we do from others? Why does his tragic death touch us in our own personal ways?

I think because he IS us, all of us. His life was ours, in a more amplified and extreme way. It was out there for all of us to view. His highs, his talent, his triumphs, his lows, his pain. Aren’t we all weird in some way? Don’t we all have some self-destructive traits? Aren’t we all still like children in other ways? Wouldn’t we all like to build a fantasy ranch to retreat to when we need a break from mainstream? Wouldn’t we all love the world to recognize and appreciate our efforts? Hi lived all these things!

Whether we were fans or not, Michael is a part of us who had been on top of the world. We feel his defeat because we are connected to him. We feel the pain of his daughter because we are connected to her.

911 affected me very much. It changed my life. But, in a completely different way than any one else I know’. In fact, it had an opposite effect on me. It pushed me in a decision I needed to make, not a good one by most standards, but certainly the right one for me.

So, now I am pondering what Michael Jackson’s life and death means to me, to my life personally, because we are all connected. I think maybe he gave me the opportunity to live out all these extremes vicariously through him. And for that, I am grateful.

Much love and peace to you Michael!

Ehab

I agree with you Laura/Goddess711. I agree with you Dov, but I agree with Laura more.

I get fully the point of Dov. Dov asks us to see other aspects of the human diamond. This human diamond may have a blotch in one or more of its facets, but the fact remains the same. The human diamond is a diamond. We need to examine it from different perspectives and see what it is for what it is. We may find some dirty facets, but on the other hand, the majority of facets are bright. By now you know that when I speak about the "human diamond," I mean the human multi-faceted nature.

Now Laura has a very, very reasonable question concerning the Law Of Attraction. Her question is: "What are the standards of operation of the Law Of Attraction that would ensure that that it works for the highest good of us as spiritual beings?" Marvelous question.

And to answer this question. I believe that every person has two circles of impact. A personal circle and a universal circle. In the personal circle, one may dream whatever he wants to dream, and do whatever he wants to do as long as there are no other people hurt or involved with these dreams. There will be no negative karma involved here as the person is attracting for himself whatever he wants without causing pain or harm to others.

In the universal circle, the human being chose to incarnate with some other CLOSE people (e.g. a family) and they chose to incarnate CLOSELY with him. I would say that if he does something that impact this circle (e.g. like choosing to do assisted suicide) without examining the impact of this action on the universal circle, here a negative experience establishes, and the earth will have a group of people of a universal circle hurt from what a CLOSE one did to them. Here is something that would indeed obviate the purpose of the Law Of Attraction, which is to bring the highest good to human beings who want to evolve in terms of spirituality.

Another question here rises: "Where do the borders of the universal circle start or end?" I imagine that the borders start or end according to every one's own desire. To give a concrete example, Michael Jackson chose to have three children in his universal circle. He might have chosen to have only two children. He might have chosen to have non. Thus, if he wants to do something in his own life that would impact these children, he should have visited with them about the impact of the action he is going to take. If they indeed happen to allow him to do the action that would impact them, on the basis that they are able to cope with the incident themselves, and they see it is ok for him to go on and do what he wants to do, then Michael Jackson would have indeed had the right to do the assisted suicide. But obviously -to me- he didn't have the right because he left behind him wounded children.

Now this doesn't apply only to Michael Jackson. It applies to every human being who has a universal circle. Furthermore, Why would we care here in this blog to read for Dov if we don't have an intention to raise the consciousness of humanity? We read here --in this blog because every one here in this blog wants to make the world a better place for himself and for others. We choose here to extend our universal circle and to spread more love and laughter on earth. Thus almost (almost..Ok!!) each one choose to have a universal circle. This universal circle gives more depth to the existence.

In the same vein, I am in Egypt right now before I am back to Montreal. You know, people are sad for his tragic death. Most of them have gotten over and forgotten the stupid debate over whether he died as a Muslim or as a Christian. They are sad for his tragic death because he is a human being. What would we expect other than that in a world that is getting closer and closer every single day?!! People are updating their limited cans of thinking and coming together..towards the true Spirit.

People are getting closer, and those who claim to raise the consciousness of humanity (like Michael Jackson did) should pay an extra attention to how their actions impact their universal circle and what is beyond the universal circle if they indeed walk their talk. Otherwise, they better off examine themselves over and over again before they talk their walk..

May you rest in peace, love and harmony Michael forever, and may you leave the astral plane to higher planes of light and enlightenment in this endless beautiful universe...

I love you Michael..

Ehab

Dov Baron

Hi Ehab & Laura,

Thank you both for engaging in this vibrant discussion... I love it!
Laura mentions the teachings of Buddha, Jesus and Mohamed, let me first say this; Everything I share here and in all my teachings are based on the teachings I have shared for the last 25 or so years. They are based on a culmination of different spiritual teachings from a large variety of religious philosophies, psychology, consciousness studies and quantum theory. If you agree with me that great, if not, that to is great as long as I can assist you, (the reader) in thinking at a deeper level and in a wider way about the things you may or may not have thought about. I do not write this blog and share my knowledge as some form of popularity contest and as a result what I write is very rarely politically correct but always heart felt. If I offend you, or anyone else, in what I have or will write, that is what I must live with, (for what might be 'my higher good'). Once again it's about raising consciousness and that starts with awakening.

Having said all that let me reply to some of your comments. Laura, you wrote: "If the laws of the universe mind their own business it would literally be chaos." Do you really believe that the universe needs us to keep order? Every law in the universe operates whether we are paying attention , manipulating or ignoring it. You ask: "“What are the standards of operation of the Law Of Attraction that would ensure that that it works for the highest good of us as spiritual beings?” From my position there is a faulty presupposition in the question... Namely that the LOA has any concern with the higher good of us. Who says that the LOA or anything else is concerned with our higher good? Ehab, You speak of the two circles, and although in principle I agree in that we have a 'personal accountability' to our impact, your comment about; "as long as there are no other people hurt or involved with these dreams". This is again suggesting that there are moral rules, which from my research is just not the case. Such moral rules only exist within the (often religious) teachings of man and are held as 'truths' for the purpose of control and manipulation.

From my position, we are either fully accountable for our lives or we are not. As far as the teachings I offer go, we are fully, totally and absolutely responsible even if we are unconscious of what we are manifesting. Ehab, you go on to suggest that, "the purpose of the Law Of Attraction, is to bring the highest good to human beings who want to evolve in terms of spirituality." Again, I have no evidence that even for a moment suggests that to be true. The law of attraction is a superficial understanding of the quantum law of resonance. And the law of resonance states that when two or more frequencies interact, energy moves to the dominant frequency, (it does not judge that frequency as good or bad or 'for the higher good' or not). From the energy moving to the dominant frequency it creates an Attracting Force and that force manifests more of what ever frequency is being carried. All this takes place whether we like it or not, whether we believe it or not, and whether it is, (by our judgment) for the highest good of all concerned.

You ask: "“Where do the borders of the universal circle start or end?” Again, this to me is a fault presupposition. In that it presumes 'start' and 'end'. Your question suggests ending and beginning and separation which are all outside of quantum and universal law. Everything I have written here is based on my knowledge, my research and my teachings, if you don't like it or if you do that's all whatever it is. Please know that I am responding because quite simply: I care enough to do so.

However, I will say that I love that you noticed something I believe is very important. "people are sad for his tragic death. Most of them have gotten over and forgotten the stupid debate over whether he died as a Muslim or as a Christian." The ego-mind is always looking for a new distraction and if Michael Jacksons passing has distracted people from fighting about religion, then by my judgment... that's a good thing.

Thank you all for thinking, rethinking, stretching, growing and sharing.

With gratitude, Dov...

Diane

Hi Dov
Great to read your views, which I can agree with. Comments from others re suicide, assisted or not are news to me - but I'm in the Canary Islands, Spain so maybe have't seen the same news, probably wouldn't want to. What I did do, along with millions of others around the world, was watch watch the final goodbye. I found it so dignified and beuatiful. I felt great relief that the expected chaos on the streets didn't happen, which would have been very distressing for his family and friends. As I never met Michael or knew much more about him except his music - some which bring beautiful memories, I learnt far more by listening to the tributes from those who truly knew, loved, respected and appreciated him. The positive way he was talked about, with humour at times, culminated I thought when Jermaine sang 'Smile' ..... until his daughter spoke.
I don't tend to watch a lot of news, because of the sensationalism and judgements made by so many. Here in Spain there are so many programmes that only want to dissect personalities with their opinions, and I give these a wide berth too. Since I stared on the healing /spiritual path I veer away even more from judgemental people. I can identify with your tale about Joe. I accept a person as they are with me, not on hearsay or vindictive remarks from others. It's so easy for people to start rumours and create a lot of hurt.
I'm sure Michael will be cared for with unconditional love where he is now.

Shaun

I think the main thing for me as an observor is this..."I do not know Michael Jackson personally" ... that resonates strongly with me as a truth.....As such the news of him passing on was sad but because I did not know him I have not really had any attraction to paying any attention to the news in general as I know it is more about what the *image* or perception of Michael Jackson represents for other people than any real emotional meaning for me.

I know enough about news and celebrity coverage to know most of media coverage is not worth paying attention to as it is mainly about images and perception and almost zero about real growth for anyone in life so although I briefly mentioned to someone the other night I might watch some of a memorial that was happening I forgot about it and that is simply a reflection it is not a strong connection for my world.

I don't have any strong connection other than liking some of his music from 1980's and knowing he is another human being living in similar time and famous. Apart from that I know I have only a few impressions of him but no strong opinions. I sense he was very sensitive person and issues to do with his childhood had big impact on the way he connected with the rest of his world beyond his music performances.

I think I watched all of about ten minutes of him talking on tv interview a couple of nights ago when there was a break on sporting event I was watching. It was interesting to see him talking about himself in some interview as it gave me a little insight to this person but ultimately he is a person I did not meet and don't know and never crossed paths to talk with as another person to engage in conversation with. The people I do cross paths with I like to pay more attention to as they are in my world. I've meet a few famous people and for me every person is a human being first and foremost so I like to treat them and talk to them as such like anyone I meet and that for me is far more important in relating to others than what is happening on the tv box.

I hope the people that truly know him personally and in his life as a loved ones deal with his passing in a peaceful healing grieving process away from the tv , media world spotlight. They lost someone in their life that they really knew and cared for. May his family and friends go through their own grieve process in peace, love and respect.

Rea Plaka

I fully agree with your article, dear Dov. I remember my son, imitating him, when he was a little boy. Michael Jackson is still for me the charismatic young man, you inspired my child, although I admit that my admiration for this extraordinary, talented artist, was later on mingled with a kind of sadness singer, because I sensed he was lonely, misundestood and unhappy. But, anyway, he was Great! Rea

Melanie

Dov, You are so brilliant. You're one of VERY few people that I always make it a point to read your blog. And every time I do, I either learn something new, reinforce my opinion that you are a genius or am in total agreement with your words. There is nothing I love more than a person who speaks for himself! In my opinion, 90% of people walking around have created beliefs within themselves based on what the media tells them and they just accept what they hear and thats that. They dig no deeper on their own, do no research, they just believe what they hear and jump to a conclusion. People think I am nuts, but I would almost bet my life that MJ was not a child molestor. If people knew about his childhood, or lack thereof, and his fathers constant beatings or how he grew up and had to become and adult at something like age 4, they would better understand why he craved love so much. All I see when I see him is amazing talent, and a lonely man who felt unloved by his family. I feel bad for him, in many ways. I have even more respect for you now for writing this. Thank you for honoring him in such a respectable way. I hope your post has opened some eyes up. I also wish you were single and lived next door. OOPS...too much information there! Thanks for your brilliant blog posts. Its so obvious you don't write them to just fill in time, you ALWAYS blow me away with your words and I have read every LOA book out there! I wish I could find time to just sit and read every post you ever wrote because I know I would be a smarter, more enlightened and consciousness person than I currently am. Thanks so much and keep up the good work. You are 1 in a million!

Sincerely,
Melanie Joy Vertalino

Cate L

Bravo Dov, As always so succinctly expressed! We all have so many aspects (even reporters) As Dennis Waitley put it so many years ago, "Bad News Sells" Just for a moment imagine what may happen if our minds became consciously programmed to seek the good & uplifting in all that surrounds us. How many papers would be sold? We all have the seeds of greatness within us. What would it take for them to flourish?

Goddess711

Hi Dov,
I have to disagree with that.
If the laws of the univese mind their own business it would literally be chaos. We have gravity. We have seasons. We have all necessities to sustain us which are created from that which created us. There has to be something more to this. Electricity my not care what you do with it, but to use it without knowlege is lethal. It can't be just grey area - no right or wrong. To me that's an escape clause. There has to be more to Life, there has to be a Meaning. Substracting the actual organization of relgions, religious greats like Buddha, Mohammed and Jesus all had the same basic tenants. There has to be something other than simple cause and effect, and it doesn't have to need judgement in there. We can all judge ourselves harshly enough without getting from the outside.
Laura

Jimpa

Hello Dov,
I know two truths about all beings, that is they all wish to be happy and they all wish to be free from suffering. All of us share these two truths, they are not beliefs but our beliefs and actions are motivated by them. Micheal Jackson shares this in common with all of us what ever he was or did, was in pursuit of happiness and the need to be free from suffering.
Knowing these two truths eliminates the need for judging others or comparing ourselves to others because we will all do whatever it takes to achieve happiness and to be free from suffering. I have found these two truths to be the greatest motivtional factors of all. In studying your course that is the underlying motivation, which is good because you are right my ego doesn't like your book.
When the ego mind is making us unhappy and is causing us to suffer enough, our beliefs become suspect and the time to change will arrive.
"The purpose of life is to be happy." The Dalai Lama

Many Blessings,
Lama Jimpa

Goddess711

And one other thing, as I read through the other posts. When I speak about MJ, I speak of him as a human being. I'm reading "pity him because it was Michael Jackson!" and "pity him because he was only a human being". I fail to see where either, for someone of his intelligence, should be pitied and blessed for escaping into not just drugs, serious, dangerous narcotics and anaesthetics. Booze and easily attainable drugs are one thing, but what MJ was into was Big Boy material. There are 3 children (my central beef) who obviously loved him for being himself. He went to great lengths to be a parent; the responsiblity factor outweighs his need for a mask and escapism.
I think too many people have caught up in his celebrity as an excuse for assisted, tragic, suicide.

Goddess711

Well, Dov,
The fact that he went out of his way to choose 3 children to love and take care of, and yet with all of his talent and being surrounded by those who loved him, he chose to kill himself (directly? indirectly?). He was not a stupid man, he manifested magnificently. Why would LOA allow choices that hurt other people? This is the part I don't understand. MJ was larger than life in hi manifesting and his choice to end his earthly contract is big news. This happens every day to every one of us; how does LOA work when choices we make ultimately hurt people/ we get hurt by other people's choices. We're taught to tag on "this or something better for the highest good of all concerned." And sure, we're taught that we all made contracts with each other and chose each other for our life's lessons. I don't understand how someone like MJ with such ginormous manifesting talent could be so weak or how LOA can allow one person's actions to hurt so many others so deeply. Shouldn't/isn't there a buffer somewhere in LOA?

Dov Baron

Hi Goddess711 (pleas give a name, I find this to impersonal)

There is one thing I'd like to clear up for all those into LOA. The bottom line is this: We live in a none judgmental universe. As far as I'm aware electricity doesn't debate about whether you can use it based on the merit of your application. In my research and experience it is fairly evident that universal and quantum laws are no different. There is no buffer for one simple reason, ultimately there is no right or wrong.

Put simply the laws of the universe mind their own business.

With gratitude, Dov...

Simon Deps

Hey Dov,
thanks for you're ideas on the guy. And thanks for starting the first intelligent discussion on MJ I've come across.
You all make good points.
He will surely be missed.

Rosemary Heenan

Thank you for a valuable reminder that what I see is a reflection of me and not "the truth" about someone else.
Warmest regards,
Rosemary

Doug Alp

Hey Dov, Nice post. I could not agree with you more. Yes most of the people in the world do want to put people in boxes, it's the way of the ego mind can figure things out and be in control of thinking it knows what's going on. We are so much more then our eyes can see but yet we are fed with information and are led like sheep by what the media feeding us so call facts. Yes none of us knew Michael Jackson, we knew of his talents that he shared with us and were inspired by that. We were not always aware of how much he gave back to charities and how much he wanted a more loving world. Which I admire.

The thing is do we really know anyone. TO know someone takes listening, expreriencing a being with compassion and a knowing that we are all souls looking to grow in our special and unique way. We are not to judge, especially when you are not knowing the entire picture. I for myself always look at how someone has added to life here on this planet and I believe Michael did that, in some of his actions and in many of his song like "We Are the World" and "The Man in the Mirror" which is basically saying we are the change we need in the world.

Anyway I find myself singing Jackson 5 and Michael Jackson songs and they make me smile and I even think I get a message from Michael saying "hey you sound pretty good kid" ...

Love Life , Love People and be the Change You want to See in the World

Love ya Brother
Namaste'
Doug

Esti Allina-Turnauer

I think we need to cautious about pigeon-holing others as well as ourselves. Limiting beliefs are limiting beliefs whether applied to others and how we see them and experience them; and what decide we can or can't do or even attempt.

Michael Jackson's death is sad and certainly a tragedy for his family and my heart goes out to them.

Cyn

It may feel like an assisted suicide to you, but to him...it was something quite different. Mike needed respite but more than that, he needed to keep that mask on, to raise kids, to keep his family happy, to keep US happy--to "smile though his heart was breaking." To do that, he used substances that allowed him, he thought, to do that, and slipped into the deluded world that the substances create. It's very difficult to convince addicts that they're killing themselves once they become dependent upon these substances to survive. They don't think the way you or I do, at that point. And he had more than an addiction to substances. He had, he thought, the weight of the world on his shoulders. You and I can take a vacation or go to the spa...we can do little things to relieve our stress. He couldn't. It was just not possible to "get away," in his world. So he did what many do. And died as many die. I can forgive him and love him because I know this. Hopefully others will be able to do the same. But I know many will never "get it."

Ed

Since elephant is a hologram, I have to grasp myself as wholly represented in his tail ;) Judge not, lest you judge yourself!

Yo Dov,

ed

Cyn

As a reporter I knew MJ when he was younger. And I became a reporter for a big city newspaper in part because of MJ, who came along when I was a teenager yearning to be a writer. I met lots of celebrities--still do. And I know that there are always multiple personalities there. Many are entertainers because of those multiple personalities, which can be expressed in a "saner" way through their work. But MJ's the one who touched me most deeply, and as we saw the other day, billions feel the same. We cannot know what a toll that kind of fame and responsibility took on the man behind the mask, but I saw a little of it everyday, traveling with these talented, tortured people. I chose to love them as people, and I was also incredibly honest with them when I felt they needed it, even if it meant being shut out for awhile, as I hear MJ would shut out those who loved him when they reached out to help. Most of all...I chose to love the frail human beings they were, and not to judge. And most, in the end, were grudgingly grateful and remained friends for that very reason. I choose to love all the MJs he carried inside himself: the talented, the tortured, the delightful, the delusional...all. He gave his all, unconditionally. I'm just returning the favor, even now, and I refuse to join in the media circus and feeding frenzy I'm witnessing.

Dov Baron

Hey Cyn,
Thanks for your feedback.
Who was MJ if not ourselves? He was simply a magnified and exaggerated vision of our own battle to find a safe place to be 'real'. As both a quiet fan and a trained therapist I saw things in him that I believe very few bothered to look for. Let us all remember that "we do not live in the world we live in the mirror", everything is a reflection of some part of ourselves or we could not see it.

With gratitude, Dov...

Goddess711

Do you know what bothers me about this, Dov? Whoever he was, as you mentioned, is different according to individual perception. He had everything to live for, as we all do, regardless of whatever was going on around him. We all choose to end our earthly contracts and MJ got his wish. He leaves behind him grieving family, friends and fans but that heartwrenching tribute by his daughter - this is what bothers me. MJ had unlimited talent and was loved probably by more people than the majority of us have the priviledge of knowing. His was an assisted suicide that leaves a gaping hole in 3 kids' lives that MJ chose to be loving father to.
Dov, tell me what LOA says about this? I can't comprehend MJ's choice for death, I was never a fan but never bit into the garbage in the papers either. Whatever went on in his life I had no opinion over, but his death - this bothers me.

Dov Baron

Goddess711,
Pray tell us what is it that specifically bothers you... That he left the Earth plane, that he left people behind, That you feel he was assisted? Or all of the above because he was so gifted and or loved?

Teri

Yes, Dov! This post is sooooo factual! We humans are all so multifaceted, so very complex, and so deep. I think Michael Jackson is our perfect example of this.

Being only 5 years older than he, I remember hearing The Jackson 5 on TV and running to watch it. I loved watching him perform. My eyes were glued to his every dance move. Wow! He lit up the screen like nothing else could. His energy moved me in a way I still can’t explain. The performance always ended far too soon!

I never knew him, yet I instinctively know he had a heart of gold and a sensitivity that had been crushed by human cruelty. His humanity far surpasses the mainstream of today. Regardless of what he allegedly did or did not do, his wonderful attributes and musical genius remain unchanged.

As children grow up, we learn to dress up with masks in order to survive in the adult world. Eventually, we lose some of ourselves in exchange for acceptance of others. I believe Michael Jackson found a means of surviving without having to compromise himself in this way.

And as with his Neverland Ranch, he truly was a great manifester!

Pieter

Thanks for another thought provoking article Dov.Today I'm going to be mindful about how I see others and how they see me.
We all have many faces(no pun intended,but hmmmm) that we show the world and even ourselves.The problem is when one fools themselves into believeing that this is who they truly are where it is simply the ego at work playing out that same old song of limitations.I for one am working to remove those limitations.

With Gratitude
Pieter

Dov Baron – Mind Mastery